Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm today. If you touch down early, there’s lots to do in Kathmandu. Maybe head out into the streets of Pashupatinath (home to markets, bazaars, holy men, monks, bicycles and sacred cows), climb to Kathmandu’s most important Buddhist shrine, Swayambhunath (also known as ‘the Monkey Temple’), or enjoy the atmosphere in Durbar Square. After your meeting, the evening is free, so you might like to try out one of Kathmandu’s many restaurants with your new travel companions. ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY IN THE CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS Weather conditions in the Himalayas can change rapidly, leading to flight cancellations and varied on-ground conditions. This means you need to be prepared for possible changes to your itinerary while you’re travelling. Flights between Kathmandu/Ramechhap and Lukla are particularly prone to delays. If bad weather prevents fixed-wing aircraft flights from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla, the itinerary will be as follows: Day 2 – We will attempt to fly as planned. If this flight is cancelled, we will return to our hotel in Kathmandu/Ramechhap for an additional night. Day 3 to Day 6 – We will again attempt to fly, but if this flight is cancelled, we will endeavour to charter a helicopter for the group to fly to Lukla. This is reliant on availability of safety-audited helicopter operators and that the weather conditions don’t prevent helicopters taking off as well. You will need to use your emergency funds to cover the cost of the chartered helicopter. The exact cost will depend on how many travellers are in your group and could be up to USD 500 per person. It is common practice for helicopter companies to charge varying prices, so you may pay different amounts to others on the flight. If we reach Lukla on Day 6, we will pick up the planned itinerary to Everest Base Camp, with enough time to ascend safely, but we won’t be able to reach Gokyo Lakes. Day 7 – If both fixed-wing planes and helicopters are unable to reach Lukla on Day 6, then on Day 7 we will return to Kathmandu. From there, we will trek to Annapurna Basecamp. While this trek doesn’t reach Everest Base Camp or Gokyo Lakes, our travellers have found it a highly enjoyable trek, with scenery of glaciers, mountain pastures and the Himalayas.

Early this morning you’ll board a plane for a quick journey from Kathmandu to Lukla (2827 m/9275 ft). This is no regular flight – you’ll be flying parallel to the giants of the Himalayas and, if the weather’s good, the views of the mountains bordering Nepal and China are amazing. Touch down on the airstrip, then it’s time to meet your porters and take some time to warm up with an exploration of the village of Lukla. After a quick safety talk, gear up and begin your trek to Phakding. You’ll descend towards the milky white waters of the Dudh Koshi River, where you’ll join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2713 m/8901 ft). The walk is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2550 m/8366 ft), it’s only a short walk to Phakding.

Today you’ll trek to Namche Bazaar, where you’ll spend two nights acclimatising to the altitude – and might even get your first look at Everest itself. From Phakding, you’ll begin to head up the valley. The trail, lined with blue pine forest, follows the river valley and is especially spectacular in spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom. Cross the Dudh Koshi River at Benkar, and look up 6000 m (19,685 ft) to see the peaks of snow-capped Kusum Kanguru (6369 m/20,896 ft) and Thamserku (6623 m/21,729 ft). Press on to Monjo (2835 m/9302 ft), a good place to break for lunch. From here the walk starts to get a little tougher, with a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. Enter the national park, cross the river through the village of Jorsale (2805 m/9203 ft) and then continue upstream. Cross the spectacular Hillary Bridge and begin the ascent to Namche Bazaar. Get your camera out, as on a clear day you’ll get your first glimpse of the peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Taweche. Namche will be your last chance to check your equipment and hire any additional gear for the high altitudes from Dingboche onwards.

Tonight, you’ll stay at Namche Bazaar again so that you can properly acclimatise to the altitude. One of the best ways to do this is to take a strenuous walk up to a high altitude, then come back down to sleep. Your optional (but recommended) walk today will take you to the Tenzing Norgay Memorial and Sagarmatha National Park Museum above the village. If the conditions are right, this stunning vista includes a panorama of the Khumbu peaks and Everest. The National Park Museum is also home to interesting displays about Sherpa lifestyle and culture, and the local flora and fauna. Then, continue your hike to higher elevations with a visit to Sagarmatha Next, who support local communities to create and implement a sustainable waste-handling system in this region. Return to town and enjoy a free afternoon and evening to rest. While you’re here, be sure to stock up on any extra supplies you still need.

From Namche, ascend to the Shyanboche viewpoint, then have lunch in Khumjung – the largest village in the region. Here, you can feast on dhal bhat and noodles before visiting the Khumjung Buddhist Monastery. The sacred rocky peak of Khumbilya (5761 m/18,901 ft) towers above and is home to the guardian goddess of the region, often depicted in religious paintings (or thangkas) as a white-faced figure on a white horse. Follow the trail as it winds around Khumbilya's lower slopes, passing through beautiful birch forest and climbing from treeless, grassy slopes to a stupa on a rocky ridge (3992 m/13,097 ft). Once again, the views of the surrounding mountains are magnificent. Phortse can be seen across the valley – this picturesque village is set in a patchwork of stone-walled fields. You’ll stay overnight at the cluster of lodges on the saddle, known as Mongla.

The altitude will start climbing now and can make things tough, so be sure to take it easy over the next three days and don’t push yourself too hard. From Mongla, descend on a series of switchback trails to the Dudh Koshi River at Phortse Bridge. The trail to Gokyo can be deceptive and some can ascend too quickly, but you’ll be able to take your time. Leaving Phortse Bridge, you’ll ascend steeply at first, then contour high above the valley, taking in excellent views of Kantega, Thamserku and Ama Dablam (6856 m/22,493 ft). About an hour's walk from Phortse Bridge, you’ll get your first views of the mammoth peak of Cho Oyo (8153 m/26,749 ft) at the head of the valley. Trek beyond the tree line and pass some imposing waterfalls on the way to the yak-herding settlements of Tongba (4015 m/13,173 ft) and Gyele (4050 m/13,287 ft). From here, it’s a short distance to Dole, where you’ll spend the night. You’ll also explore the upper Dole Valley while you’re here, returning via a high ridge above the lodge to take photos of Cho Oyo and Gyachung Kang (7922 m/25,991 ft) to the north, and Taweche (6542 m/21,463 ft) and Cholatse (6440 m/21,129 ft) across the valley to the east.

You might come to appreciate the term ‘short walking day.’ Today will be just that, with a climb out of the small Dole Valley before a gradual ascent up the Dudh Koshi Valley, high above the river. Though the walk is quite easy, you’ll definitely start to feel the effects of the altitude. The barren alpine scenery, with only small clusters of scrub juniper, is a stark contrast to the snowy-white peaks and deep-blue skies. After a couple of hours, you’ll arrive at Luza (4360 m/14,304 ft), then you’ll reach the lodge at Machhermo. If you’re still feeling energetic after lunch, there’s an option to take the excursion across rocky rubble to the base of Kyajo Ri (6168 m/20,236 ft) and Machhermo Peak (6073 m/19,925 ft).